Progress made in Iraq: Bush

US President George W. Bush declared progress in the Iraq war yesterday, saying terrorists “are on the run” and a generally improved security environment should permit further US troop reductions.

Standing outside the Oval Office of the White House, Bush also said that effective yesterday, the duration of troop tours in Iraq will be cut from 15 months to 12 months.

Bush said this reduction “will relieve the burden on our forces and it will make life easier for our wonderful military families.”

His updated report on Iraq came with the war in its sixth year and violence on the ground substantially decreased in recent weeks and as the conflict remains a key issue in the presidential campaign.

Bush said that commanding General David Petraeus and US Ambassador Ryan Crocker, however, had “caution [sic] that the progress is still reversible and they report that there now appears to be a degree of durability to the gains that we have made.”

“We are now in our third consecutive month with reduced violence levels holding steady,” Bush said.